On May 15, 2006, the PCT and long-distance hiking community lost one of its own. Wendell Ray Echols (“No Way Ray”) of Mariposa, California, was approximately 300 miles into a northbound PCT thru-hike with his wife Alice Tulloch when he apparently lost his footing and fell about 200 feet to his death. Alice was hiking about 20 yards behind him when he went around a corner and disappeared. The accident occurred in a remote part of the San Bernardino National Forest near Deep Creek. Another group of hikers heard Alice’s pleas for help and were able to use a satellite phone to call for assistance. Ray was pronounced dead at the scene.